It is with great pride that I write to endorse Rose Krasnow in her campaign for Montgomery County Executive. I had the pleasure of working with and becoming friends with Rose during my four years as Chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board from 2010 to 2014. Rose served in upper management of the Planning Department during that time, and I could count on her to approach the many situations that public officials face with professionalism and competence, while treating employees and the public alike with the respect all people deserve. Because of her good judgment and dedication to serving the public interest, Rose was one of the people I relied on most for advice. Because of her ability to be resolute in the face of adversity, I could count on her, especially, in tough times. Because she is deeply caring and compassionate, I knew Rose would always do the right thing. These are the qualities that will make Rose excel as County Executive: professionalism, competence, judgment, dedication to the public interest, resoluteness, caring, and compassion.

In addition to stellar personal qualities, Rose is the only person in the race who has experience in all three arenas that should be required background for a County Executive: upper management of a government agency, elected office, and business. Rose spent 14 years in upper management at the Planning Department, giving her not just significant government managerial experience, but also a deep familiarity with the County. She spent a total of ten years as Mayor of Rockville and prior to that, a Rockville City Council member, giving her both executive and legislative experience. Rose also spent several years on Wall Street in the early part of her career, giving her a valuable understanding of business and finance.

My four years on the Planning Board and nine years running zoning hearings for the County gave me ample opportunity to appreciate the importance of the County Executive, a job that is part Chief Executive Officer, part diplomat. Having had the pleasure of calling Montgomery County home for 21 years, I would be proud to have Rose Krasnow represent our County in the region and abroad, and I would rest easy knowing that with her in charge, the County Government is in the very best of hands.

I hope you will join me in voting for Rose in the Democratic Primary on June 26, 2018.